Electric Circuits

Students are first introduced to the basic properties of electricity as they learn about electric circuits and the parts of a light bulb. Next, students learn about conductors and insulators and about the symbols used to represent the parts of a circuit in circuit diagrams. Students also explore different kinds of circuits, learn about switches, construct a flashlight, and investigate the properties of diodes. Finally, students apply their knowledge and skills to wire a cardboard house.

Trainer Tips:

Trouble Shooting Circuit Problems:

• Ensure all wires are hooked up properly and securely
• Check batteries, holders and connections
• Batteries must be in positive (+) to negative (-) order
• ALL batteries must be good, only 1 weak one will cause failure
• The last battery must have one wire on the negative side and one wire on the side of the light bulb, with the bottom soldered tip of the bulb against the positive side of the battery
• It will take between 9-13 batteries to get the light to flicker
• All batteries must be tight to one-another - use books at each end to hold them together
• Ensure that the bulb is screwed in tightly and is touching the metal plate
• Turn the room lighting off to see the faint glow of the filament (you will only see a faint red glow due to the lack of higher voltage)
• Diodes and Transistors - A diode allows current to flow in only ONE direction. It is a device that blocks current in one direction while letting current flow in another direction. Diodes can be used in a number of ways. For example, a device that uses batteries often contains a diode that protects the device if you insert the batteries backward. The diode simply blocks any current from leaving the battery if it is reversed -- this protects the sensitive electronics in the device. Diodes are also used to provide a fixed "reference voltage" from a supply voltage that varies. They are widely used in regulated power supply circuits.

The Final Assessment - Use the houses as a procedural knowledge assessment.  (They have to use ALL of their knowledge that they learned throughout the unit.)  Make up your own declarative knowledge assessment with vocabulary and a tie-in to the standard of "energy".

If your school district has never used the Einstein Electric Circuits units, and is a WPS electric customer, you can apply for a grant to pay for your first year of kit use, plus teacher training! Details here.

Interactive Activities for the Electric Circuits unit (Media - Movies - How a Light Bulb Works)

Parent Letter - English

Parent Letter - Spanish

Electric Circuits Storyline (pdf)

Literacy / Book Lists

Teacher Recommended Resources

Recommended Websites

Unit Certificate
Acknowledge your student's accomplishment in completing this unit with our completion certificate. We hope they enjoyed learning about science through The Einstein Project's hands-on approach!

Free Resource:

Classroom Connection is a new e-newsletter that will be published four times each school year, with FREE energy education-related resources for educators. Classroom Connection is created and published by WPS. Sign up for your free copy at http://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/company/classroom_connection.aspx.

Sponsorship Opportunity

Sponsor the Electric Circuits unit! To learn about sponsoring a unit and all the other giving opportunities at The Einstein Project, please contact us at 920-884-8800 or einstein@einsteinproject.org.

What are people saying about the Electric Circuits Einstein science unit?
 
"The more I do this, the more fun I have and so do my students!  Thank you!"
-- Mary Jo Stangel, Grade 4 teacher at Valders Elementary School, Valders, Wisconsin

"The first day I heard 'I love science' - 'This is awesome'!"
--Lori Lauerman, Grade 4 teacher at Lincoln Elementary, Appleton, Wisconsin

"We had tremendous success with the circuits and the houses."
-- James Bayard, Grade 4 teacher at McAuliffe Elementary School, Green Bay, Wisconsin

"You can see the cause and effect - not just someone telling you."
--Greta Pearson, former Green Bay, Wisconsin student, who now has a degree in Aquatic Biology & Broad Field Science from UW Superior, and is currently working part-time for the college on plant research for the Pokegama Reserve (wetland)